Changeling [Hardcover]

Mike Oldfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2007

Born without social instincts many people take for granted, brought up in an environment that was beyond his ability to deal with and possessed with an extraordinary musical talent, Mike was thrust into the spotlight at the tender age of nineteen. His first album "Tubular Bells" went on to sell fifteen million copies worldwide and catapulted him into a stardom he was ill equipped to cope with. From growing up with an alcoholic mother, to his feelings of alienation and struggles with depression, this book takes Mike from his early years, through his staggering fame, his broken marriages, years as a recluse and to his rebirth experience at a controversial Exegesis seminar. Mike Oldfield has been on a journey few of us could ever imagine, and offers a message of hope to anybody who feels they live on the edge of society.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Mike Oldfield was just nineteen when his first album, Tubular Bells, catapulted him into stardom and made him one of the most successful recording artists of all time. It was to be a journey few of us could imagine.

Growing up with an alcoholic mother and without the social instincts most people take for granted, Mike felt he never fit in. Then, with the spectacular success of Tubular Bells, he suddenly found himself struggling to cope with fame on an unimaginable scale, and a growing feeling of alienation and depression.

Mike takes readers from his difficult early years through the recording of Tubular Bells and the sudden fame it brought, to his subsequent breakdown and rebirth experience, right up to the present day in an incredible story featuring a cast of characters that includes Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithful, Richard Branson and Steve Winwood. It is a unique and inspiring tale of success, struggle and hope. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Mike Oldfield rose to prominence with his first album, Tubular Bells, which was written and recorded during his teenage years. Once it reached the number one spot, it spent a total of 250 weeks in the UK album charts. It was also used as the theme tune to the film The Exorcist and won a 1974 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. He is one of the most successful recording artists ever, and is currently working on a new album for release in 2007/2008.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Hardbacks; First Edition edition (May 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185227381X
• ISBN-13: 978-1852273811
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,624,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a god, but a heck of an artist, May 22, 2007

By 

Paisley Print - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changeling (Hardcover)

Since I was eighteen and was blown away on my first listen to Ommadawn, I've discovered and rediscovered Mike Oldfield's music for twenty years. I enjoy different styles of music and various artists, but - at this point in my life - I could be quite happy stranded on an island with only Mike's albums.

He goes into a lot of detail in regards to his childhood, teen years, and early adulthood. In overcoming a good deal of his angst, he reveals that he lost the force that "turbocharged" his music. This isn't a 'look at what a great guy I am' kind of book. Mike shares his insecurities and regrets. This may not please some who see Mike as a 'god', but - in these acknowledgments - he shows a lot of maturity and courage. There are accounts of drug use and alcohol dependency, and I was glad to see that he treated his love life decorously. In fact, I don't recall sex being mentioned at all. Although I was fascinated throughout, my favorite part is the last chapter where we hear Mike's take on where he stands now, on life, on music, and on the future.

I never expected to see an autobiography. I figured Mike would just remain a mystery to me, and that was fine. After reading this book, however, I am very grateful. The main focus of the book is on the pre-1980s, and there are still mysteries, but it's satisfying to know a little more about the motivations behind the man who makes such amazing music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than I expected..., June 6, 2007

By 

K. Bickel (Gaithersburg Md) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Changeling (Hardcover)

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I purchased this, but I found it very enjoyable. Mr. Oldfield's writing is very conversational and he appears not to be a bitter person despite personal difficulties. I agree with much of what the prior reviewer stated, I would only include that much of the book is devoted to his childhood through the first three albums. He seems to gloss over everything from Incantations on. Compared to most "rock star" biographies, Mr. Oldfield places a heavy emphasis on influences and the creative process. Quick enjoyable read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars As A Writer, Mike Makes A Great Musician, July 13, 2008

By 

Robert Carlberg (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Changeling (Hardcover)

Oldfield's music has been a big part of my life since 1973, and although I've been vaguely aware of his various psychological difficulties -- shyness, panic attacks, borderline autism -- I never thought much about them. His autobiography deals frankly with them in illuminating detail, more than it deals with his music or musical inspiration. He is a singular artist and these insights into his psyche make for fascinating reading.

Unfortunately (as another reviewer noted) Michael has chosen to write without a ghost writer. Surprisingly for someone so capable of weaving musical lines together, his writing is scattershot and ill-organized. Incidents from his childhood and adulthood collide, without common themes, and he frequently takes off on tangents which interrupt the flow. It's a stream-of-consciousness style with odd weight given to minor incidents and major sections of his life -- wives, kids, music -- barely mentioned. Understandably prose is not his area of expertise, but he has done everything else he's attempted so extremely, extremely well that the bar was higher here. Even Mick Fleetwood's autobiography was better written than Changeling.

Oh well, it's still nice to add it to my Oldfield library.